Ask yourself, how would you survive without “working”? The most common answer would be the all important savings account. So move to the next step. After the savings account, after the severance pay, after the support from friends and loved ones, how do you survive financially? So they key to knowing your wealth becomes figuring out how many days could you survive without working. Adding up your monthly living expenses, calculate the amount plus ten percent. That is the number you need to “survive” every month. Remember, you have no salary, no business income and this is based on your current standard of living. Let’s say your monthly living expenses were calculated at $3000 and you have $7500 in available cash. Your wealth would be 2.5 months. You could survive for 2.5 months without working. Knowing your level of wealth is good news. It is the first step in toward financial independence because your total monthly number now becomes your financial freedom number. Being financial free is not about becoming a millionaire and knowing this lessens the pressure and increases your chance of success. Being financially free, knowing your financial freedom number is about the amount of passive income you’ll need to get there. It is the system of paying yourself first, tracking your expenses and understanding money and behavior.

Paying yourself is an often used and overused cliché. We all know it, so now it is time to expand the concept. Make yourself uncomfortable. Yes, in this case discomfort is good so whatever percentage you are saving, triple number. Now, how do you feel? You save 10% and now you moved to 30%. This is stretching your financial outlook. Knowing we can do more creates an atmosphere for us to do more. Remember, being wealthy starts off with a mindset.

We all have money habits, good, bad, and indifferent. After all, finances involve powerful emotions. Think back to when you had a job that never paid you on time or when you lost a large sum of money. Emotional responses to spending drive us to clearer explanations and expectations. Our foundational exposure to money starts in childhood. Theses transgenerational behavior patterns toward money will interpret how you spend and why. Keep in mind that every day we make decisions about money. Not just planning for the “big purchases” but our daily transactions. Did you stop at a newsstand to buy a newspaper? How about that bag of pretzels and gum you quickly grabbed for the corner store? These are one of the many financial transactions we make on a daily basis. Now stop and ask yourself, are those transactions determining your wealth? It’s always better to know than not know.

The numbers don’t add up. There seems to be a hole in your budget. You know your monthly expenses, have a balanced check book and you examine your bank statements with a magnifying glass. What else can you do? What would happen if you carried around a small notebook and wrote down every amount you spent? These means magazines you bought checks you wrote or the 50 cents you gave to the kid down the block. Do this for 30 days and if you miss a day, start all over. Your money consciousness would become extremely detailed very quickly. This is exactly what you want. You are building a habit of action, discipline and thought. You have now planted the seed of financial freedom and the space to let it grow. Remember, fortune favors the bold.

Particularly if you are an entrepreneur, you are your greatest asset: if you cannot produce, you see no ‘return on your investment’ [ROI]. ‘Investment in YOU’ should be part of every budget you create.

What goes into investing in yourself?

1) Good, Nutrient-rich Food

You must fuel your body and your brain to stay focused, productive and clear while doing business. You want to avoid the caffeine or sugar crash in the middle of meetings. The best way to do this is to ‘snack’ on protein-rich, easy to carry nuts, seeds, cheese, yogurt, etc. If you need to ‘grab’ food, eat real food, not bagels, muffins or pre-packaged snacks. Half a sandwich will get you through your afternoon and leave you satisfied, not starving, focused on work, not the next coffee.

2) Daily Relaxation

Relaxation is FREE and ACTIVE. Investing in daily relaxation simply means carving out time for: a walk, a cup of tea with a friend or loved one, an ‘open heart’ chat (not a gossip or complaining session), enjoying nature or spending time sprawled on the floor with your children, dog, cat, lover or yourself.

3) Non-Judgment

Do you spend [waist] time criticizing yourself and/or others? This is a highly draining and unproductive use of resources. Comparing business models and LEARNING from them is one thing; comparing your company’s growth with others and beating yourself up or gloating about it, is another. Time and focus are lost when we feed our insecurities with other peoples’ perceived success stories. Build your business on a foundation of non-judgment and you will thrive. When you or others do well, learn. When you or others fail, learn. Period.

4) Make You a Priority

Just as you would put off ‘other things’ for a very important client, give respect and attention to you. If you are tired, overwhelmed, exhausted, or elated and busy, make time for you. Sleep when you are tired. Ask for what you need: from loved ones [including children], friends, co-workers/ staff. Clearly communicating your needs will make EVERYTHING run more smoothly. Just as if you were organizing a meeting and dinner for an important client, organize your time / day / week to appeal to and please YOU. You will work better, feel better and be your best client, boss and co-worker.

When I started my writing business I joined a few organizations, signed up for all kinds of services and attended many different networking events. As soon as someone told me about some new group, I signed up. I thought that as a business owner I had to be a part of every business organization and attend every event.

In time I realized that every event and organization was not helpful or worth my investment. I learned the hard way that though something may seem like a good idea, it may not be the best idea for you or your business. I started to pull back on memberships, subscriptions and services. As far as supplies, I kept a more careful accounting of what I was using. It’s amazing how expensive it can be when one adds up costs for ink and paper! In my corporate job I was used to printing and copying documents without thinking about the cost.

In time I also started to think about what books and home study courses I was buying. As soon as I’d read about a new book or set of materials that would show me how to grow my business, I would go and buy it. Then, inevitably the book would sit on my shelf collecting dust because I had no time to read it. I spent the first year of my business spending a lot of money that I now realize could’ve been directed elsewhere. Though it can be frustrating to look back at my lack of awareness about what was worth investing in (and what wasn’t) it was a learning experience. Being a business owner means that a lot of your learning will involve a great deal of trial and error. You try something and if it works you do more. If it doesn’t work try something else.

Consider these spending tips:

1. Set aside a budget for business books and materials before you start buying.
2. Keep track of expenditures in an Excel spreadsheet if you can’t afford to buy a more expensive software program
3. Be realistic about the money you need to spend to keep your business running. Not investing in hardware or software upgrades may hurt you more in the long run.
4. Can’t afford to have an elaborate website designed? A web presence is essential for a small business. At the very least invest in a domain name and get email capabilities, then use a free blogging account to host your web page.
5. Consider using free or low-cost social networking sites as an alternative to attending more expensive networking meetings and events.

It’s important for business owners to have a realistic picture of their finances. I know it may seem overwhelming, especially if you don’t consider finance to be your strong suit. However, just taking the time to look at what you really need to spend right now (and what can wait) can help you stay solvent during times of economic churn.

Your Email

What is a business today without it? Your business cannot survive without email and if you’re like most businesses, that means not only email on your computer but also when you are out of the office. This issue can then lead to other concerns like calendar sharing and scheduling overlaps. A smart choice for a small business is to get away from using email systems that forward email around. Why not use a system that allows syncing? I don’t just mean email, I mean calendars, contacts and more. If you can’t afford a system that Corporate America uses, but want everything they have, you may want to invest in a service known as hosted exchange. This allows you to have devices wirelessly synced while out of the office so co-workers can see your calendar, reducing scheduling conflicts. No more wasted time worrying about emails that downloaded into an email program that you can’t see on your webmail application. With hosted exchange it is all synced; web, pda and your Outlook. The cost for a service may seem high at an average of about $30/ a month, but when you think about the time you save and the backup these companies put in place, it may be a smart buy.

Your Website

The most common comment I hear from people is that their website isn’t doing what they thought it would for their business. This conversation is one of the toughest talks I have to have with people. The website seems to be the on of the biggest areas where businesses try to save money. Smart spending has ended up costing them more money. When deciding to create a website or redesign a website be sure you make smart choices and ask smart questions. A pretty design doesn’t ensure business. Be sure you ask the candidates you have about their understanding of marketing a website. What most people miss is that a website is more about marketing than anything else. Design and technology are important, but if I can’t find you online, what does it matter how pretty your website is? If and when I find you on the web, and you don’t understand how to get me to take an action on your site – what good is the functionality? When deciding to build a website, be sure to start with the marketing angles and a budget that will get your customers to take notice. If not, you may be rebuilding and re-spending in 3 to 6 months wondering why your website is not bringing you any business. Smart spending is crucial here as people can not hire you if they don’t know you exist – market your website.

Smart spending is a theme that should be carried throughout your business. I hope these two ideas gave you some things to think about as you grow your business. To me, smart spending means not always saving money but getting the best advice for my money. Often times hiring an expert can get me farther faster or using technology can save me time, which ultimately saves me money.

When it comes to growing your business, do your homework and take the time to really understand what you’re buying and if it truly matches your company’s goals. Ultimately you need to buy with your gut, and don’t let price be the determining factor. Don’t be penny wise and dollar foolish.

Last week, a local phone book directory advertising service called me to see if I wanted to take out a display ad in their publication for $500/year. I have had good luck with finding clients through the phonebook, so my initial reaction was ‘sure, sign me up’. However, my new approach to business is to take a step back, evaluate and say no, even when I want to say yes. What does this approach do? Most salespeople are negotiable. Their initial price is high. Once you say no, this opens the door for them to come back with some sort of offer. In this case, I was particularly stubborn. By the beginning of this week, here is the offer I was presented with: If you refer us three people who sign up for an ad in our phonebook, we’ll give you your ad for FREE! Now, that’s smart spending. So, I always ask now what kinds of deals or discounts salespeople have available.

I noticed that this approach also worked with an on-line printing company I use often. Each week, I get offers from them for small discounts on various items. I used to buy into their first discount offer right away. Lately, I have been exploring the sight for items I use often. I know they can track where I’ve been on their site because when I get the initial email, it’s always an item I’ve been looking into and check out but don’t buy. Invevitably, my next email offers an even deeper discount on the item, and if I keep ignoring their deals, I eventually get the item for FREE plus the cost of shipping! It may not be in the quantity I want but I just wait for the next deal. Can you learn to negotiate with businesses that sell to you regularly?

Since I have an on-line company (www.artnsoulinc.com), I write large checks to my web design company for web revisions. I recently switched to a web design company who created funky, customized templates for me to use so that I could make revisions myself. This will save me lots of money in years to come. What can you do yourself in your business that will save you from spending with some of your important vendors?

I recently started taking art lessons to expand my technical ability in art. I’ve mostly worked in acrylics and now am learning to paint with oils. Some art teachers I researched taught techniques over a long period of time. I eventually found an art teacher who charges $50 PER SESSION (not per hour), provides the canvas and I walk away in one lesson with a completed painting. I then price it higher, pay for the lesson, and make a profit. I know a local ski resort that trains their trainers to ski, then the newly trained skiers start training beginners right away within the 3^rd or 4^th lesson. They do know more than the beginners even though they aren’t experts. Are there services you can offer to your clients that you just may have newly learned?

I partner with other coaches and artists and then we share information with each other by forming Mastermind groups. Let me explain how this works. One of us might join an association in a particular area or a trade group that has a particular topic of focus or one of us attends a webinar or teleseminar or subscribes to a particular trade magazine or publication. Then, we all share the information we’ve learned. My former competition (artists and coaches) are now my strongest allies. We’re stronger helping one another than we are as competitors. I now represent other artists and coaches to help them expand their businesses while mine continues to expand both nationally and internationally.

Companies often have empty space within their organizations waiting to be used. One local retirement center encourages use of their beautiful conference room to expose the community to their facility. The room is provided for FREE if they can share some quick information with my groups about their facility. They even provide FREE coffee and cake. Their goal is to send out the message that their facility is a great place to retire, and it works for both of us.

Here are some of the other tips I’ve used lately to spend in smart ways. I buy recycled ink jet cartridges. I buy items I use often in bulk from warehouse stores. I barter for services.

My final tip: Getting an article written about you in newspapers and on-line is always better than spending money on advertising. I constantly create a buzz about my business and get FREE publicity!

Finding ways to spend smart is now a creative challenge for me. I hope you, too, can find similar opportunities and feel free to share your ideas with me!

Janet Tanguay is the owner of www.artnsoulinc.com. She is a Creativity Life Coach, Artist, Author and Artist Representative helping people achieve their personal and professional goals using creative expression.

So let me get the disclaimers out of the way. Yes, I am an attorney for small businesses. Yes, I need to tout the value of what I do so that entrepreneurs will hire me and I can stay in business. Yes, telling entrepreneurs not to do their own legal work is in my best interest…but so what? Does anyone look down at website designers for impressing upon us the need for an online presence in this Digital Age? Does anyone scoff at accountants for offering to prepare and file our tax returns? It is in your best interest to have a website and file your tax returns…isn’t it? Isn’t it possible that not doing your own legal work could be in your best interest, too?

Obviously, I think so. Here are 3 big reasons why you should not attempt to handle your company’s legal matters on your own:

1. It’s not a productive use of your time! I can’t emphasize this any more clearly. You’re in business to make money. And your time has value. Every minute that takes you away from planning and executing projects and orders that generate revenue adversely affects your top line (not just your bottom line). It reduces the amount of gross income you can expect to receive. Bethany ran into that problem when she tried to handle her own trademark registration. She spent a little time poking around the Internet to see if anyone else was using the same mark (she didn’t find anything). She then spent time reading through the Trademark Office website about how to file a trademark. She spent more time filling out the online form and paying the filing fee. The Trademark Office responded, raising several objections (one of which was that there was a similar – even though not exact – mark registered). Bethany then tried to puzzle through a response, and paid an additional filing fee, but to no avail. The end result: a loss of hundreds of dollars in filing fees, and thousands of dollars in time that could have been spent serving clients, and she was left with still no trademark registration. Is this really a good use of your time?

2. You may not have the training to do it right. Would you perform an appendectomy on yourself? It reminds me of the old joke about the patient who undergoes emergency surgery. After recovering, he receives a bill from the surgeon for $10,000. The patient practically jumps out of his skin. He calls the surgeon and demands an itemization of the bill. The surgeon replies, “$1000 for making the incision; $9000 for knowing where to make the incision.” There is a real expertise that goes into handling legal issues properly. Do you have the appropriate training to do it? As mentioned in our article, What You Should Know Before Copying Contracts from the Internet,” are you up-to-date with recent changes in the law? Do you know which terms to include – and which ones to avoid? Even if you copy contracts from other people in your industry, are you sure that they reflect how you want to do business? That they adequately protect you? I hired a website designer because I knew that I would totally botch the job if I did it myself. Don’t forget that a poorly written contract is just as risk-inducing (maybe even more so!) as having no written contract. All it takes is one misunderstanding, one crazy client, one person who’s upset with “the principle of the thing,” and you’re stuck in the middle of a costly lawsuit, with no one to blame but your patchwork contract.

3. You risk developing a puny business mindset. One of the hallmarks of a business that has the capacity to grow is its ability to delegate those tasks and assignments to others that the business owners do not need to handle personally. Think about it – what are the issues that you, and only you – because of your background, talent, or expertise – could possibly handle for your business? Take janitorial services. Is there something about you and your talents that only you can empty the garbage and clean the toilets each night? Probably not. The same applies to making deposits at the bank. Talking to tech support to configure a piece of computer software. Billing for services. And preparing your contracts. When you have a company that earns income without your having to be physically present to do the work – ah, then you’ve reached business nirvana, with optimal personal and financial freedom and flexibility. Sure, you can choose to work, but you’ll do so because you want to, not because you have to. To get there, you must be willing to delegate, whether to employees or vendors. You must be willing to let go of control. You must be willing to let go of fear. You must be willing to let go of believing that you are the only one in the Known Universe who can do it right. The benefit of letting go is that, in return, you get a more professional, streamlined, well-run business that frees up your time.

I’ll climb down off my soapbox, now. But I stick by my reasoning. Give yourself the peace of mind you deserve by delegating to the experts what fits within their area of expertise – whether it’s your legal work, accounting work, bookkeeping, copywriting, web design, or anything else. To find a good small business attorney who meets your needs, be sure to listen to our FREE audio class, Choosing and Using Attorneys Wisely, easily downloadable from www.WiseCounselPress.com!

© 2004-2008 Wise Counsel Press LLC. Nina L. Kaufman, Esq., is a small business attorney and the founder of Wise Counsel Press LLC, which offers easy-to-understand legal strategies and information products that protect small businesses and save them money . . . wisely. To learn more, and to sign up for their FREE how-to articles and FREE audio class, visit www.wisecounsepress.com. For more information, please contact info@WiseCounselPress.com. This article is for your general information only and is not intended to substitute for the specific advice of legal counsel.”

1. Eliminate unnecessary expenses from your current lifestyle.

Do you know where your money is going every month? It’s easy to feel overwhelmed about having enough monthly income in the future when you don’t have a clear picture of how you’re spending today’s money. Start tracking your expenses and eliminating those items that you don’t really need or want. Easy places to start would be canceling magazine subscriptions you could do without, reducing your cable bill (are you really watching ALL of those channels?), ending your gym membership and taking advantage of local parks, and eating out half as often.

2. Make a plan to pay down your debt.

Unsecured debt is a huge drain, both financially and emotionally, and makes it very difficult to go through a transition from being employed to owning your own business. Create a plan to eliminate it even if takes you years to do so. Once you start paying it off you will undoubtedly find yourself paying it down more quickly than you thought as you begin to see yourself making a dent in it. I know. I’ve been there!

3. Open a dream savings account.

Once you’ve paid off your debt, open a savings account to fund your transition. Having a buffer to back you up will give you a tremendous amount of peace of mind. Experts recommend saving anywhere from three to six months worth of expenses. Decide for yourself how much of a buffer you need.

4. Keep asking yourself what this career change is worth to you and act accordingly.

As time goes on, continue to scrutinize your expenses. Go through a process of always asking yourself, “Would I rather have this (sweater, shoes, manicure, new iPhone, expensive home) or work for myself doing what I love?” Whether you choose the “thing” or the career, live in integrity. In other words, be sure you’re consciously choosing one over the other because that is what is important to you. Ultimately, this will be the underlying frame of mind you will need to have in order to financially make your new business a reality!

© 2008 Segaric Coaching Inc.

Annemarie Segaric is a respected career change coach, motivational speaker, and the author of the ebook, 107 Tips for Changing Your Career While Still Paying the Bills. Ready to switch careers and don’t know where to begin? Visit www.segaric.com and download your own career change toolkit today!

Reduce the number of pieces

You can cut costs by mailing fewer pieces (a letter and a brochure with attached order form and mailed). Fewer pieces means lower printing and lettershop costs (lettershops stuff the envelopes, affix postage, and take the mailing to the post office). A smaller, lighter package will also require less postage.

Start Small

Trying something new? Start with a smaller mailing, then mail again, in larger quantities, to the lists that worked best.

Change The Physical Size of Your Mailing

Larger mailings will cost more. For instance, an 8 1/2 x11 10-page brochure on thick paper will cost more to print and mail than a 6×9 6-panel self-mailer. Talk to your printer before you finalize your design. It’s a lot cheaper to change the design before they start!

Get Volume Printing Discounts

Use a printer that combines (or “gangs up”) different print jobs from multiple customers. You will lose some flexibility (there will be fewer choices of paper size, type, and quality), but you will gain full-color printing and significant volume cost savings.

Regardless of which printer you use, If you think you may need a few extra, order them. Much of the cost is in the initial setup, so doubling the quantity won’t double the price.

Update Your List Regularly

People move, change jobs, and change their names. The more old data and errors on your list, the more money you’re wasting on mail that won’t get delivered. If your list is clean, you’ll have fewer errors and duplicates. If you rent or buy a list, check to see when it was last updated. No list is 100% perfect, but return rates should be about 2%.

Don’t Pay Retail for Postage

Paying 41 cents is like paying full retail. And, the best part is, you don’t have to wait for a sale!

There are three basic kinds of mail, two of which you probably know about: first class and standard (or bulk mail). Both have discounts based on volume (how many pieces you send), density (how the addresses are concentrated together) and whether you are a nonprofit or a commercial business. There’s also first class pre-sort, which goes as quickly as regular first class, but costs less because you sort it first (in zip code order).

Five Ways To Cut Your Postage Costs

1) Put the addresses in zip code order, lowest to highest (this is called pre-sorting.)

2) Send at least 200 pieces for bulk mail, 500 for first class pre-sorted mail. First class pre-sort is cheaper than regular first class.

3) Weigh it; it should be under an ounce for first class, under 3.3 ounces for bulk.

4) Check the dimensions (for instance, a letter size envelope is OK, but a square or a 9 x 12 flat size will cost you more money).

5) If you use a self-mailer (no envelope), fold it with the crease on the bottom, and the wafer seal (a sticker to hold it closed) on the top so it will slide smoothly through the post office’s machinery.

Before you start, check with a lettershop/mailing house for detailed information on addressing formats, size limits, and postal templates. You can save up to 40%!

To avoid being penny wise and pound foolish think of the big picture and you’ll actually be able to save money and headaches in the long run. Here’s what you have to do…

Invest in your Success

Instead of obsessing about “expenses”, understand that creating your professional image takes a real budget, so you can hire a talented team of creative consultants from the start. The old adage “you get what you pay for” applies in spades here! If you want prospects and clients to take you and your company seriously, retain the services of a professional graphic designer and a web master, a copywriter, and a printer. These folks are the source for developing and disseminating your exclusive brand – the look, flavor and personality of your company, its services and benefits.

It’s not opinion – it’s a fact.

Well designed and correctly written marketing communications materials serve your best interests. Great collaterals and powerful prose help to distinguish your firm, attract clients and increase sales. Hack jobs (slapped together by less qualified and cheaper resources) look it, and can actually impede your progress! If you want to really launch strongly, add on an SEO expert (someone who can help you insure that your web coding is up to snuff, to organically raise your search engine rankings).

Keeping Competitors at Bay

Think about your behavior as a consumer. Your life is busy, and you don’t have a moment to waste trying to figure out anything. Your prospects are just as demanding. With advance planning and a good handle on your objectives, strengths and your target markets, you can develop a strong strategy (and the right approach in the right venues) to keep your prospects from clicking away to your competition.

So smart spending with a realistic budget at the get-go can actually help you achieve your goals in a shorter period of time. I’ve interviewed and worked with many booming businesses and the feedback I’ve gotten is the same, no matter what industry. Successful business owners profit from a wise investment with the right players (which includes outsourcing or hiring to handle admin and bookkeeping tasks). Bottom line: if you want to be profitable in a shorter window of time, it requires doing some homework, thoughtful planning and implementation (read investment of dollars).

Ask around and get referrals. Don’t fall into the penny-wise trap and get the professional help you need to, in order to get the results (from your unique website, direct mail, brochure, business cards, print or online ads, etc.) the first time around. Here’s to your success!

# # #

Pattie Simone is a Business Speaker, Writer and Mentor. She covers smart career and entrepreneurial tips on ABC TV’s nationally syndicated America This Morning program and is an Ask Entrepreneur Expert at Entrepreneur.com. Simone owns Write-Communications.com, a consultancy delivering winning branding, positioning, messaging, marketing planning and strategy solutions to startups and growth-track firms. She is also the founder of WomeCentric.org, a dynamic speaking bureau which taps the expertise of diverse women thought leaders, for lively career advancement, leadership & entrepreneurial keynotes, workshops and seminars.

“How much should I expect to pay to set up a blog?”

I get asked this question a lot. This is like asking an architect how much it will cost to build a house. What kind of house? Brick? Wood? Stone masonry? How many people will live there? On what kind of terrain? What upgrades and amenities do you want? What time of year do you want to build it? Can you see how we can quickly slide down the rabbit hole?

The “how much” question is the one that tips off an unscrupulous blog consultant that you don’t have a clue what you’re talking about. That’s when she moves in for the kill with slick layouts (that do nothing for search engine rankings), widgets, plug-ins and alphabet soup talk.

Should you decide to work with someone who can help you set up a blog, you can avoid this trap, by making your first question: “Can you show me some of your work?” However, don’t let the consultant send you a PDF file filled with blogs that are no longer operational. Ask to see only operational blogs, and ask the consultant to tell you exactly what she did on each project. Some blog consultants just design the colors and graphics that you see, and the back-end part is done by someone else. Be clear about your needs and their capabilities.

The next thing to ask is: “If we were to work together, what steps would you make to help me make sure my blog is successful?” If she starts talking about fancy designs or platforms, run for the hills. The appropriate response should be something along the lines of wanting to understand more about your business and how it works or what you want your blog to do. Some experts use blogs for thought leadership, information sources, and fodder for upcoming books, still others simply want to foster an on-going dialogue with their market or manage their reputation. Again, be clear about the way(s) you plan to use your blog.

This is where you should have done your homework. One would think that price comes now, right? No.

Now, you present a list of everything you want your blog to do, look like and have. Don’t worry about lingo. Explain it in plain English. It’s the blog consultant’s job to translate for you. Why should you have to learn a new vocabulary to communicate with someone you’re hiring to help you? Over the course of time, you’ll come to know the correct names for the various technology bits and bytes, but for now, just focus on a simple list of must-haves and would-like-to-haves.

Remember, no one can tell you what you want. If the consultant you’ve selected is any good, she should be able to ask clarification questions and make best-practice suggestions once you present your ideas, but no one can detail what you want.

Use examples. Provide links to blogs you like and blogs that make you cringe. Tell the consultant the reasons why you like or dislike a blog. Point out specifics.

If a blog consultant wants to skip these first couple of steps – be wise and move on. If she doesn’t have the time to help you determine what you want in a blog, how can they submit a proposal?

It’s also important to get proposals from more than one consultant. I recommend that you get three to five proposals from different consultants, but definitely no less than three. This way, you will be able to examine the price points and see which consultant is low-balling just to get your business (and probably won’t do a good job anyway) and who presents a serious proposal that requires a reasonable investment.

Remember, when it comes to technology, you always get what you pay for.

——————–

Lena West is the Chief Social Media Strategist at xynoMedia, a New York-based firm that helps companies develop social media marketing plans as well as build blogs, podcasts and online communities. You can read her Entrepreneur Magazine blog here: http://techforward.entrepreneur.com